Will center Danny Briere’s spot in the Flyers’ lineup be replaced by Brad Richards?

The Flyers plan to buy out Briere, who has a $6.5 million cap hit and two years left on his deal. A club source said the Flyers would “absolutely” be interested in Richards if the Rangers use a buyout to get his annual $6.67 cap hit off the books.

Richards’ contract runs through 2019-20. But he would become an unrestricted free agent and be able to sign a new deal if the Rangers buy him out.

Briere, one of the NHL’s greatest playoff performers, has been slowed by injuries the last two seasons. When healthy, he is still a dangerous offensive player. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking if the offensive-challenged Rangers pursued him when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 5.

Poll

Should the Flyers pursue Brad Richards if he is available?

Yes.

No.

Briere, who will turn 36 in October, lives in Haddonfield and wants to stay close to the area to be with his three boys.

The 6-foot, 196-pound Richards, 33, would give the Flyers more size than Briere, who is generously listed at 5-10, 181 pounds. Richards is coming off a season in which he had 34 points in 46 games, but his cap hit may cause New York to “amnesty” him.

The classy Briere, by far the most accessible player on the Flyers, will be missed in the locker room. He managed just six goals and 16 points in 34 games last season.

Under terms of the new CBA, teams are allowed a total of two compliance buyouts in the next two off-seasons.

The Flyers will use one on Briere, and they are undecided on whether to use one on goalie Ilya Bryzgalov.

Ryan's return? A Flyers official said there was "nothing going on" when asked to comment on a CSN report that the Flyers were pursuing Anaheim's Bobby Ryan, the pride of Cherry Hill.